Difference between revisions of "Placebo"
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==Key Stage 4== | ==Key Stage 4== | ||
===Meaning=== | ===Meaning=== | ||
| − | A '''placebo''' is a fake [[drug]] given to | + | A '''placebo''' is a fake [[drug]] given to patients during a [[Clinical Trial|clinical trial]]. |
===About Placebos=== | ===About Placebos=== | ||
: [[Placebo]]s are used to prevent [[bias]] in research caused by people expecting a potential [[medicine]] to work or not. | : [[Placebo]]s are used to prevent [[bias]] in research caused by people expecting a potential [[medicine]] to work or not. | ||
| − | : '''Placebos''' are known to have a positive effect on many illnesses. To ensure that a new potential [[medicine]] is not just a [[placebo]] some of the | + | : '''Placebos''' are known to have a positive effect on many illnesses. To ensure that a new potential [[medicine]] is not just a [[placebo]] some of the patients are given a [[placebo]] so the results can be compared with the potential [[medicine]]. If the results of the [[placebo]] and the potential [[medicine]] are the same, then the potential [[medicine]] had no effect. |
| − | : When administering [[placebo]] that | + | : When administering [[placebo]] that patient is unaware whether they are being given the real potential [[medicine]] or not. This is known as a [[Blind Trial]]. Most trials of potential [[medicine]]s are [[Double Blind Trial]]s which means neither the doctor giving the potential [[medicine]] nor the patient receiving it will know if they've got the real one or not. |
Revision as of 11:49, 5 April 2019
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A placebo is a fake drug given to patients during a clinical trial.
About Placebos
- Placebos are used to prevent bias in research caused by people expecting a potential medicine to work or not.
- Placebos are known to have a positive effect on many illnesses. To ensure that a new potential medicine is not just a placebo some of the patients are given a placebo so the results can be compared with the potential medicine. If the results of the placebo and the potential medicine are the same, then the potential medicine had no effect.
- When administering placebo that patient is unaware whether they are being given the real potential medicine or not. This is known as a Blind Trial. Most trials of potential medicines are Double Blind Trials which means neither the doctor giving the potential medicine nor the patient receiving it will know if they've got the real one or not.